Dallas Cowboys have officially taken care of business in the regular to capture the NFC East, pounding the Washington Commanders, 38-10. There are plenty of positive signs for this team even though they face the Green Bay Packers in the Wild Card round of the playoffs. Yes, don’t worry Cowboys fans, it’ll probably favor Dallas in the end.
Aaron Rodgers nor the old stars are there any more at Lambeau, plus the game will be played at AT&T Stadium. This might be the best product that Mike McCarthy produced throughout his tenure with the Dallas Cowboys. Preparation and getting the job done was the goal for this team and they’ve done just that, at least for the regular season.
It’s now up to the team to see if they rewrite the embarrassing and crushing defeats they took in past postseason games. But the question comes if they can do just that. The anticipation keeps growing every day to see if this team is serious about a deep run. They’ve set the tone with the blowout win after a controversial escape win against the Detroit Lions, a week prior.
But wait now, the Cowboys aren’t done yet, the job isn’t finished and no one’s job is safe, not even McCarthy’s position.
The Dallas Cowboys need to win the Super Bowl this year:
1: They’re as healthy as a team can reasonably be.
2: Dak Prescott is having a dream season.
3: The playoff field is weaker than normal.
4: There’s no better time than right now.
— Emmanuel Acho (@EmmanuelAcho) January 9, 2024
All or Nothing: Dallas Cowboys Have Clear Path in Playoffs
Mike McCarthy Is Still on the Hot Seat
Despite his success in the regular season, there is speculation that his job isn’t, at least not yet. Jerry Jones declined commitment to the coach beyond the postseason, stirring the pot for rumors. However, Jones backed up on what he said and later praised McCarthy but it’s still something to watch for. McCarthy has 41 wins which is the most in franchise history in just four years with the organization.
So the main problem is his success in the playoffs disciplining this team and molding it to a legitimate postseason contender. He may have some regrets from last year, but his biggest one will be if they lose to his former team, the Green Bay Packers. If he truly wants to seize everything then he has to go through them first.
It’s possible now that the Cowboys have learned that lesson in 2022 as Aaron Rodgers engineered a comeback against Dallas, even in their home, many times. The Cowboys are breathing a different type of air this time around for the playoffs. Despite the rough history with Green Bay, the Cowboys can rewrite that terrible past.
The Dallas Cowboys Have the Tools to Score a Lombardi Trophy
It’s obvious having guys like Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb and Micah Parsons all putting on a campaign for MVP status for a high-caliber postseason. The work is finished for the regular season, but they have the right recipe to go all the way to past years. Get this, the offensive line is finally healthy and they have La’el Collins back in the lineup, all are expected to start for the Wild Card matchup.
Don’t forget about the running game that is slowly improving at the right time. The anticipation is that it will only get difficult in the playoffs. That’s the norm Dallas needs to become extra prepared and should shy away from getting too cute with their trickery plays. Tony Pollard may have struggled in the regular season, but a boost of motivation will help him.
Rico Dowdle and Deuce Vaughn are the motivation if Pollard continues to lag. But that’s far from happening, barring any circumstances of Pollard fumbling and not performing well. However, the good news is that Brandin Cooks is cooking and Jake Ferguson continues to shine bright. They even have a legitimate receiver who can act like a running back in Kavontae Turpin for trick plays.
What It All Comes Down to for the Dallas Cowboys
It’ll be up to the organization itself to see what picture they want to paint in their legacy. It’s true what they say; the playoffs are indeed different than the regular season. The fans will await to see how different this team will be. Fasten your seatbelts and hold your breath, the journey to seize everything is clear.
Main Photo: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
